Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045
Netflix

Netflix is fully committed to establishing itself as one of the go-to destinations for anime fans, and their latest entry is a 3D-esque CGI reinterpretation of the classic ‘Ghost in the Shell’.  The new series, entitled ‘Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045’, hails from Production I.G. and SOLA Digital Arts, and marks the first completely CGI entry in the franchise.

‘Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045’ is directed by Shinji Aramaki (the ‘Starship Troopers’ anime) and Kenji Kamiyama (‘Ultraman’) and features character designs by Ilya Kuvshinov.  Kuvshinov is a rising artist whose work draws heavily from manga and anime, especially ‘Ghost in the Shell’, which was his first exposure to the art form.  He has published two books, ‘Eternal: Ilya Kuvshinov Illustration Works’, and ‘Momentary: The Art of Ilya Kuvshinov’.

Kamiyama directed previous projects this series, starting with the 2002-05 series ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex’, followed by the 2005 OVA film ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – The Laughing Man’, 2006’s ‘Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG – Individual Eleven’, the ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society’ TV movie, and most recently, 2011’s theatrical ‘Ghost in the Shell S.A.C. Solid State Society 3D.

The concept of ‘Ghost in the Shell’ was created by Masamune Shirow, and like most similar properties, began as a manga, before being adapted into anime.  The first manga was published in 1989, and was published under the name ‘Mobile Armored Riot Police’.  The first manga movie, simply entitled ‘Ghost in the Shell’ was released in 1995.  That was followed by the 2002 series ‘Stand Alone Complex’.

It’s not clear how Netflix’s new ‘SAC_2045’ will deviate from the source material, and the current synopsis and teaser video don’t do much to fill in the blanks.

This is all that has been revealed regarding the plot:

In the year 2045, after global capitalism has defaulted, Japan’s elite Section 9 begins conducting covert cyber operations.

And here is the very short teaser:

 

In the US, ‘Ghost in the Shell’ is best known by the 1995 original film, and the 2017 live-action attempt, directed by Rupert Sanders, which starred Scarlett Johansson.

It was already known that ‘SAC_2045’ was expected sometime in 2020, and the teaser doesn’t reveal a specific release date.  But the simple fact that a teaser has been released indicates that it is getting closer.

What do you think so far?